In the ongoing process of sidelining former law minister Babar Awan from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the party leadership on Tuesday decided to take away his last official post within the party folds. The party leadership has decided to replace Awan with Rukhsana Bangash on his current post of secretary finance of the PPP. Awan’s name has also been removed from the party’s website and he is no longer a member of the party’s Central Executive Committee. PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has also issued orders to remove the camp office which was stationed at Awan’s residence. The former law minister has sent back the security convoy of the Rangers and the police and also returned his bullet-proof car to the Establishment Division.
Meanwhile, Awan’s brother Farooq Awan, who was working as a special adviser to the prime minister, has also submitted his resignation to the prime minister. Babar Awan had drawn the ire of the PPP leadership ever since his refusal to appear before the Supreme Court to testify in the contempt of court hearing against Prime Minister Gilani. Gilani’s lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan had asked the court to summon three key witnesses in the case – including Awan and two high-ranking bureaucrats. However, Awan was reported to have promptly refused to appear – despite many saying that his testimony would have made the prime minister’s case stronger. President Zardari has also rejected an apology by the former law minister for not supporting the PM in court. Meanwhile, Online reported that Awan had also sought a personal audience with the president in a letter in order to remove “the misunderstandings”. In his letter, the former law minister expressed solidarity and loyalty with the PPP but President Zardari refused to meet him at all.
PPP takes back what was left with Babar Awan
